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[gregory nahas <lettherebemonkeys AT yahoo.com>]

Female baboons may boast during sex 

Female baboons scream more if they are having sex with
high ranking males.

Researchers tape recorded the screams before, during
and after matings on more than 550 different
occasions.

Animal experts think the females may be 'boasting'
about their partner's rank or even his ability.

Another reason might be that the female is trying to
avoid being harassed by other suitors while she is
mating with a choice male.

However, New Scientist reports it may simply be that
larger, more dominant males are better at it than
smaller ones.

To try to find out why, Stuart Semple, of the
Institute of Zoology in London, analysed the acoustics
of seven female yellow baboon calls in Kenya.

His team found that the grunts are faster and more
vigorous the closer a female is to ovulation.

This may incite competition among the males so she is
more likely to mate with the highest-ranking members.

The study is published in the American Journal of
Primatology and reported in New Scientist.

Story filed: 14:46 Monday 21st January 2002
http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_500606.html




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